Arts - The Daily Cardinal

The pull of this album comes from the complexity and variety of symphonic layers offered alongside its stunning vocals.

ARTS

Judas Priest’s latest release is perhaps their best album yet

By Edgar Sanchez | Apr. 16, 2018

Being in a band that steadily produces good music for a decade is an accomplishment of epic proportions.

The best element that the film has to offer is a stellar directorial feature by Krasinski.

ARTS

'A Quiet Place' displays the directorial talent of John Krasinski

By Alex M. Jankovich | Apr. 16, 2018

2017 was an incredibly influential year for horror with “Get Out” and “It” bringing serious and impressive entries to the genre.

Wes Anderson delivers another distinctly packaged bundle of joy as the film balances fresh execution of his familiar themes with wondrous animation and enchanting world-building.

ARTS

‘Isle of Dogs’ is a gorgeous journey through artificial Japan

By Carl Zabat | Apr. 15, 2018

“Isle of Dogs” has all of the classic Wes Anderson signature traits: an all-star voice cast at the top of their game, an eclectic mix of pre-existing songs with an idiosyncratic score, intensely detailed shots and a story that is equal parts enduring and off-kilter.

Cardi B's emotionally complex debut addresses the skepticisms and speculations surrounding her rise to stardom.

ARTS

Cardi B conquers on the highly anticipated ‘Invasion of Privacy’

By Francisco Velazquez | Apr. 14, 2018

There are multiple stories running through one body, quickly responding to all feelings of anger, paranoia and vulnerability. Cardi B does not merely chase a quick appraisal with Invasion of Privacy, but rather reminds us that proving the doubt of success is hardest when in the spotlight.

ARTS

Netflix documentary ‘Wild Wild Country’ humanizes cult members with intimate footage, firsthand interviews

By Monique Scheidler | Apr. 13, 2018

I wholeheartedly went into Spring Break last month with the intention of catching up on school work I fell behind on, but instead I binged an entire series on cults. Though to be honest, this isn’t entirely out of character for me on a regular week. Netflix’s new series “Wild Wild Country” hooked me from the start, and I think non-cult enthusiasts will find it just as addicting.

Saba's storytelling and innovative flow shine on his excellent sophomore album.

ARTS

Saba establishes signature sound in ‘CARE FOR ME’

By Colin Durlacher | Apr. 12, 2018

Last year in February, Saba’s cousin and co-founder of the Pivot Gang rap crew, John Walt, was shot and murdered in Chicago. Saba searches for the cure to his emptiness from the loss of his cousin through the innovative piano backtracks and lyrical excellence that embody CARE FOR ME.

The Weeknd returns to the darkness and passion of his older works, but My Dear Melancholy, does little to expand on what the artist has already done.

ARTS

The Weeknd sings of lost love with little originality in ‘My Dear Melancholy,’

By Carl Zabat | Apr. 11, 2018

My Dear Melancholy, serves as the antithesis to Starboy: It’s an angst-ridden love letter filled with the passion and darkness that The Weeknd left off his previous album, which favored faster tempos and radio-friendly choruses.

The World Is Yours has catchy hooks and stellar features — the problem is that there are just as many forgettable ones.

ARTS

Rich the Kid’s debut album is front-loaded, lacks consistent quality

By Logan Rude | Apr. 11, 2018

“Get off your a** and hustle,” is the first line on Rich the Kid’s debut album The World Is Yours. He goes on to rap, “I’m the definition of a hustler,” which could not be more true. While The World Is Yours has been marketed as his first album, he’s been a star in the trap scene for half a decade. In the past five years, he’s released a staggering 18 mixtapes which, on average, meant a new project every three months. On top of that, he founded his own record label Rich Forever Music all before signing a deal of his own. Rich is a hustler in every sense of the word.

Cocoa Sugar is a near-perfect execution of the group's genre-melding, mind-boggling and awe-inspiring music.

ARTS

‘Cocoa Sugar’ basks in the brevity of Young Fathers' cryptic vision

By Logan Rude | Apr. 11, 2018

Scottish-based, Mercury-Prize-winning group Young Fathers have been ones to ignore the confines of genre since their critically acclaimed 2014 debut Dead. The following year, they upped the ante with genre defiance while throwing in more abrasive touches that expanded their sound even further. Their first output since 2015, Cocoa Sugar is yet again an expansion of their incredible musical palette.

The novella is a rewarding read with beautiful language and imagery. Its story also has heavy real world significance.

ARTS

‘The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Eréndira and Her Heartless Grandmother’ is an unusual, beautiful novella

By Grace Wallner | Apr. 11, 2018

“The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Eréndira and Her Heartless Grandmother” is a 1972 magical realist novella written by Gabriel García Márquez. At about 20 pages, it’s a short, yet dense read.

With an incredible stage presence and electric vocals, Vundabar carried the venue to a place of incredible energy.

ARTS

?Vundabar brings rock and roll to The Frequency

By Emma Ryan | Apr. 10, 2018

Vundabar has made their way to Madison on a national tour that’s taken them through California, Colorado and Florida, with an appearance at SXSW in Austin, Texas along the way.

ARTS

‘Into the Breach’ is a brilliant strategy game from the makers of ‘FTL’

By Marty Forbeck | Apr. 10, 2018

If you’d have told me a few months ago that Subset Games, the makers of “FTL: Faster Than Light,” were going to come out with one of the tightest, most interesting strategy games ever made, I’d have laughed in your face.

JPEGMAFIA's abstract production and lyrical ambiguity are great when not overdone.

ARTS

JPEGMAFIA’s ‘Veteran’ has bold experimentation, but becomes excessive

By Edgar Sanchez | Apr. 8, 2018

JPEGMAFIA will be performing a free show April 21 at The Sett in Union South.

The film tears down the expectations built up for a sequel, but what it builds on instead is original and insightful.

ARTS

?A last look at ‘The Last Jedi,’ the 'Star Wars' film everyone needed

By Carl Zabat | Apr. 6, 2018

Spoiler Alert: This article contains major plot details and spoilers for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” If there is anything certain about fans, it’s that they can be touchy.

Fueled by intimate and enthralling footage that can’t be seen anywhere else, the film balances hard-hitting journalism and the humanity of the Hamiltons’ fight.

ARTS

‘The Blood is at the Doorstep’ is a testament to the power of documentary films

By Alex M. Jankovich | Apr. 5, 2018

With expensive blockbusters and art-house independent films dominating the entertainment industry, documentary filmmaking has wrongfully taken a back seat in the eyes of American audiences.

As a whole, American Utopia simply isn’t captivating enough to retain interest past a few listens at most.

ARTS

David Byrne's new record is creative, yet incoherent

By Carl Zabat | Apr. 1, 2018

David Byrne has tried and succeeded in a variety of musical endeavors throughout his long career: Oscar-winning music for “The Last Emperor,” a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, just to name a couple.

Earth, Wind & Fire's music has a timeless quality about it that can’t be measured — each song a message of love, understanding and ultimate grooviness.

ARTS

Earth, Wind & Fire delights entire sold-out Overture crowd

By Grace Wallner | Mar. 31, 2018

Earth, Wind & Fire, arguably the most influential and prolific funk, disco, R&B and soul band of all time, performed at the Overture Center last Saturday, 49 years after the band’s creation.

Mitski's gentle yet striking voice stirred the emotions of concertgoers at the High Noon Saloon last week.

ARTS

Mitski enchants audience with heartbreaking, empowering music

By Sammy Gibbons | Mar. 28, 2018

Superheroes don’t always wear capes, or so the saying goes. Sometimes they blend into the black backdrop on a stage and cast their powers over a crowd through the vibrations of their guitar strings. Indie rock singer-songwriter Mitski radiated this power, her chin raised and legs placed firmly in a powerful stance, regal as she watched over her kingdom at the High Noon Saloon this past Thursday.

ARTS

‘Annihilation’ is a thought-provoking, visually marvelous expedition

By Christian Memmo | Mar. 28, 2018

“Annihilation” is a melting pot. It’s quite difficult to compare it to a singular film that might capture its mood and personality. It carries the same cerebral, ominous tones that were signature traits in director Alex Garland’s previous hit, “Ex Machina,” and now bleeds into the increasingly horrific expedition via our protagonist crew.

ARTS

Mindy Kaling’s 'Champions' has strong leads, weak surrounding elements

By Monique Scheidler | Mar. 28, 2018

If there’s one celebrity who I could become best friends with, it would be Mindy Kaling. “The Mindy Project” was one of my favorite rom-coms, and when it ended, I was horrified I would no longer have a weekly hangout with Mindy — so I mostly just stalked her Instagram. Luckily, she wasn’t gone for too long, as she premiered her new show “Champions” earlier this month on NBC. Though it’s not the greatest, any Mindy is better than no Mindy.